More than 20 Coaches attended the first of a series of three sessions, held on Wednesday April 26, 2017, of the British Virgin Islands Football Association (BVIFA) Level 11 Coaching Course. Photo: Provided

BVIFA Technical Director Marcos Falopa with Mrs Julianna Luke, BVIFA General Secretary addresses the assembled Coaches at the start of the BVIFA Level II Coaching Course. Photo: Provided

The Course is designed to improve on both the communication with and education of all the BVIFA’s Coaches and enhance the pathway into further qualifications for those keen to give back to the game.

To launch the programme, which runs every Wednesday, both in the classroom and on the football pitch, BVIFA President, Andy Bickerton asked those present to utilise Falopa’s experience and be ready to put back into the game.

“We are in problems right now, especially in the Primary Schools as we don’t have enough Coaches, those we do have are spread too thin and we are losing the quality of our programmes. So, what’s been happening is that we have been running courses for people who haven’t given back, so what I would like to emphasise is that we really need you to stay involved.”

The BVIFA pays Coaches to work in the Schools Football Programme.

The programme that the BVIFA wants more and more Coaches for is Grassroots Football in the schools, which are open to any boy or girl of any ability to learn the game.

“What we are doing,” concluded Bickerton, “is looking to provide the Community with a means to put their kids into programmes and keep them off the streets and out of trouble, so please come back and contribute.”

Coaching course

Marcos Falopa also welcomed the attendees and laid the Foundation for the Course, which is split over three Wednesday’s to include Theory such as the Principles of Coaching, Technique, Planning, Small sided games, Warm Up’s and Tactical Games.

“I’m here for the challenge and very pleased to see how many Coaches registered for the Level 11 Course. You will all learn something over the duration, no one knows everything and even if you only learn ten per cent then the course will be successful.”

Falopa also went to explain the Methodology of Coaching, the Importance of Coaching Education, the Establishment of Grassroots Programmes and how everything fits together to improve football in schools and the performances of national teams.

The sessions continue this Wednesday May 3, 2017 at 4:30 PM at the BVIFA Office.